Lady Bowen Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lady Bowen Hospital |
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Former Lady Bowen Hospital, c. 1912
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| Location | 497-535 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1889 - 1890 |
| Official name: Lady Bowen Hospital Complex (former), Anzac House and Club, Lady Bowen Hostel, Queensland Lying-In Hospital | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 23 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 601798 |
| Significant period | 1880s, 1920s, 1940s (fabric) 1880s-1940s (Historic) |
| Significant components | clubroom/s / clubhouse, hospital, ward - enclosed, residential accommodation - nurses' quarters |
| Builders | John Quinn |
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The Lady Bowen Hospital was once a special hospital for pregnant women and new mothers. It is located at 497-535 Wickham Terrace in Spring Hill, Brisbane, Australia. The building was designed by John H. Buckeridge and built between 1889 and 1890 by John Quinn.
This historic hospital was named after Lady Diamantina Bowen. She was the wife of Sir George Bowen, who was the Governor of Queensland at the time. Lady Bowen was the first supporter of the Ladies' Committee. This group worked to create safe places for women to give birth in Brisbane. The hospital is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its important history.
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History of the Lady Bowen Hospital
The former Lady Bowen Hospital is a group of three buildings on Wickham Terrace. The oldest building was built in 1889–1890. It was the second special home for the Brisbane Lying-In Hospital. A "lying-in hospital" was a place where women would stay to give birth and recover.
In 1938, the Lady Bowen Hospital was replaced by the Brisbane Women's Hospital. After that, the buildings on Wickham Terrace were used for many different things. Today, various arts groups use these historic buildings.
Why Hospitals for Childbirth?
In the 1800s, giving birth was often very dangerous for both mothers and babies. Most babies were born at home with the help of midwives. These midwives had different levels of training and experience.
For women who couldn't afford a midwife, there were few options. In the early days of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement, some care was available from the female prison. But after the prison closed, poor women had no medical help during childbirth. This changed when the Queensland Lying-In Hospital was started in 1864.
Starting the First Hospital
A group of people decided to create a lying-in hospital in 1864. They asked the government for some money to help set it up. The government, led by Governor Bowen, gave £500 to help start the first public lying-in hospital.
From the very beginning, the Ladies' Committee of the Lying-In Hospital had three main goals:
- To make midwifery standards better in Queensland.
- To help people feel more comfortable with women giving birth in hospitals.
- To help single mothers.
To achieve their first goal, they started training midwives very early on, in the 1860s.
On 1 September 1864, a Ladies' Committee was formed to manage the new hospital. Many wives of important Brisbane citizens were part of this committee. The hospital, officially called the Queensland Lying-In Hospital, opened on 2 November 1864. It was in a rented house called Fairview on Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill.
Moving to New Locations
The hospital stayed in the rented house until 1866. Then, it moved to a new building on Ann Street. This new building had eight rooms and beds for twelve patients. In August 1867, this building was renamed the Lady Bowen Lying-In Hospital. This was to honor Lady Diamantina Roma Bowen, who was very involved in charity work.
The Lady Bowen Lying-In Hospital stayed on Ann Street for about 25 years. But by 1889, a bigger hospital was needed. The Ann Street location was not considered healthy because it was noisy and didn't get enough fresh air or sunlight. Also, it was hard to keep married and single women separate, which was important at the time.
The Ann Street property was sold, and patients moved to a temporary place. In October 1888, the Ladies Committee bought land on Wickham Terrace. This is where the current hospital building stands.
Designing the New Hospital
After buying the land, the Ladies' Committee asked Brisbane architect John Hingestone Buckeridge to design the new hospital. Buckeridge was a well-known architect who had worked in London. He designed a two-story brick building with a large basement. It could hold 50 patients.
Local builder John Quinn constructed the building. The ground floor had an entrance hall, a sewing room for nurses, and patient wards with bathrooms. The first floor had more wards. The basement held the nurses' dining room and kitchens. There was also a separate building for patients with infections.
The foundation stone for the new hospital was laid on 29 May 1889. The hospital officially opened on 28 December 1889. The first patients were admitted on 1 January 1890.
Changes and Closure
In 1923, a Nurses' Quarters building was added next to the original hospital. This provided living space for the nurses.
In 1924, the management of the Lady Bowen Lying-In Hospital changed. It became part of the Brisbane and South Coast Hospital Board. This meant that hospitals across Queensland started to follow similar rules and receive government funding. The Queensland Government took full control of hospitals in 1945.
By the 1920s, the Lady Bowen Hospital needed updates. With concerns about high infant deaths, new laws were passed to help mothers and children. Experts suggested building a new obstetrics hospital at the Brisbane General Hospital site. This new hospital, called the Brisbane Women's Hospital, opened in 1938.
The Lady Bowen Hospital closed on 26 March 1938. Its staff and patients moved to the new women's hospital. Since then, the buildings of the former Lady Bowen Hospital have been used by many different groups. During World War II, the site was used by military groups. A two-story timber building was added around 1943 for use as a serviceman's club.
What the Hospital Looks Like
The Lady Bowen Hospital complex has three main buildings. They are on the northern side of Wickham Terrace and look out over Albert Park. The central building is the original 1890 hospital. To its west is the 1923 Nurses' Quarters. To the east of the 1890 building is the timber building from around 1943.
The Original Hospital Building
The 1890 hospital building has a detailed design. It has a front section facing Wickham Terrace and a long rectangular section at the back for patient wards. These two parts were separated to help stop the spread of airborne germs.
The building is made of brick with a rendered (smooth plaster) finish. It has two stories and a basement under the back wing. The roof is made of corrugated iron and has a complex shape. The front of the building has two double-story bay windows. The main entrance is in the middle of the front.
Inside, the original hospital still has many features from the 1890s. It has plaster walls and ceilings, and timber floors. The basement has concrete floors and brick walls. A large concrete staircase connects the different levels.
The Former Nurses' Quarters
The 1923 Nurses' Quarters is a large two-story brick building. It faces Wickham Terrace. This building was designed in the Arts and Crafts style, which uses traditional craftsmanship.
The front part of the building is right on the footpath. It has a hipped roof made of corrugated iron. On top of the roof is a tall, eight-sided spire. The building's walls are divided into two parts. The lower part was originally face brick and is now painted. The upper part has a rough plaster finish.
The front of the building has a round arched entrance. On the ground floor, there are two large windows. The upper level has three windows. Inside, the building has concrete floors, brick walls, and ceilings with decorative timber patterns.
The C1943 Building
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This two-story building was built around 1943. It is located at the corner of Wickham Terrace and Robert Street. It is made of timber and covered with fibrous-sheeting. The roof is shallow and made of corrugated iron. The building has many timber-framed windows with frosted glass.
The main entrance is on the western side of the building. It has a half-glazed door. Inside, the walls and ceilings are covered with fibrous cement sheeting. The building has many windows, making the rooms bright and airy. There is a timber staircase inside.
Please note: As of 2018, this building has been taken down and replaced with an apartment block.
Why is it a Heritage Site?
The former Lady Bowen Hospital was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 23 April 1999. This means it is an important historical place.
It shows how Queensland's history has changed. The Lady Bowen Hospital was built in 1890 to help pregnant women who needed medical care. The Ladies Committee, who ran the hospital from 1864, helped make big improvements in childbirth care in Queensland. This hospital was a very important step before the Brisbane Women's Hospital opened in 1938. It shows how healthcare, especially for mothers, changed from a charity service to a government-funded one.
It is a rare and special building. This hospital is one of the few surviving 19th-century hospitals in Queensland. It is also a unique 19th-century maternity hospital.
It shows what a hospital from that time was like. The hospital shows the main features of 19th-century hospital design. It was built outside the main city area, on a high spot overlooking a park. Its inside layout allowed for good air circulation and natural light in the wards.
It is beautiful and well-designed. The former Lady Bowen Hospital is a well-known landmark in Brisbane. It is a large group of buildings that were designed to fit together nicely. Even with some newer changes, the buildings are still architecturally important because of their design and details.
It is connected to important people and groups. The hospital has strong ties to the Ladies Committee. This group was very important in providing early childbirth services. It also has a special connection to Lady Diamantina Roma Bowen, who was an early supporter and for whom the hospital was named.
Images for kids
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Former Lady Bowen Hospital, c. 1912
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Anzac House, built circa 1943
